The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States
"Born to be God’s light in the darkness" for Friday, 30 December 2016
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing made had being.
4 In him was life,
and the life was the light of mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not suppressed it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was Yochanan. 7 He came to be a testimony, to bear witness concerning the light; so that through him, everyone might put his trust in God and be faithful to him. 8 He himself was not that light; no, he came to bear witness concerning the light.
-------
The prologue to John’s gospel daringly linked the worlds of Greek and Hebrew thought. Numerous Greek philosophers had identified “the Word” (Greek logos) as the great Idea behind the world. The Hebrew Bible began (like John) with “in the beginning,” and said God spoke into being all that is. John’s poetic prologue said Jesus embodied all that power and wisdom.
• “In the beginning,” in any language, carries us back to areas of mystery of which, even today, science is just scratching the surface. John didn’t say the Word “began” in the beginning; he said the Word “was.” It was a way of saying Jesus has always been here,
and will always be here. He is eternal; he is God. In what ways does it matter to your faith that Jesus is more than just a good man?
• “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light” wasn’t just poetry. As we see on Christmas Eve, even a large room full of darkness cannot hide or put out the light of the one small Christ candle when it comes into the room. When has it felt to you that darkness was trying to put out God’s light in your life? What spiritual practices have you found that help keep you close to God, so that God’s light keeps shining in you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for shining the life-giving light of your love and grace into my life. Amen.
-------
Today’s classic passage is John’s masterpiece. In less than 120 words he propels the reader through profound philosophical/ theological ideas, places the great prophet, John the Baptist, in his honored context, and introduces one of John’s grand themes: The Light of Christ vs. the World’s Darkness.
Aside: John’s introduction hearkens back to the Creation story in Genesis. An old preacher story says that after God created 24 hours of alternating light & darkness one of His angels asked Him what he was going to do next. God replies, “I think I’m going to call it a day.”
John’s original audience would have readily appreciated his symbolism. They knew all too well the hazards and threats that occurred in darkness, be it tripping and falling, attacks by wild animals, or being set upon by thieves.
In medieval times, superstitious legends developed about “The Witching Hour” (12:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.) or “The Devil’s Hour” (3:00 a.m.) when evil freely roamed the earth, coinciding when the night was at its darkest.
As communities became more developed, street lighting was emphasized to provide artificial light to combat the night. Lamplighters were employed to light lamps along the street each evening with a wick on the end of a long pole. At dawn they would return to extinguish the candles. (Benjamin Franklin invented the 4-sided lantern for streetlights in Philadelphia to help avoid the wicks being blown out by the wind.)
The 1st natural gas distribution companies/utilities in America were started in the mid 1800’s to create the infrastructure to provide gas lighting in front of homes & businesses to improve the safety & comfort in the neighborhoods. Today street lighting, provided by electrical lights, has been found to reduce accidents, improve safety for pedestrians, and reduce crime rates.
Despite all these efforts by societies throughout history, we still have a problem. Artificial light may provide temporary comfort from the shadows of the night, but it doesn’t combat the darkness that can seem to penetrate our souls.
So what does this mean for us today? Last Spring Break our family toured Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. This planned tour prompted the folks’ recounting of my first visit to Mammoth Cave as a 5-year-old. Apparently I was on an independence kick that summer, feeling quite capable of being in charge of myself. As we toured the cave, Dad recommended I hold his hand. I quickly shot down that suggestion and wandered around to look at the cave. Being in my own world, I missed the Park Ranger’s instruction that he was going to shut off the lights for 30 seconds so we could appreciate the cave’s darkness. The lights go off and we are in pitch-black darkness. And, as the folks noted, all that could be heard was my small voice saying, “D-a-a-a-d?”
You know, sometimes we can be tempted to think that man-made “lighting” can solve our problem of darkness, be it through possessions, power, or prestige. Or perhaps we are enticed to feel that we are, indeed, large and in charge and don’t need any assistance, let alone God’s help.
Yet when darkness does descend on our lives we can have full confidence that God will hear our cry and be there to take our hand to help comfort us and to guide us through the gloom.
(After reading this 556-word Insight, I, too, marvel at John’s succinctness to make his point in so few words – Editor. You could edit this comment to just “John rocks!” – DL. Touché. Happy New Year! – Editor.)
Looking for GPS Guide? Scroll to the top of this page and click the GPS Guide tab!
DARREN LIPPE
Darren Lippe helps facilitate Journey 101 “Loving God” classes, guides a 7th-grade Sunday school class, is a member of a small group and a men’s group, and serves on the curriculum team.
-------
"Born to fully reveal God’s glory, truth and grace"
Saturday, 31 December 2016
John 1:9 This was the true light,
which gives light to everyone entering the world.
10 He was in the world — the world came to be through him —
yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own homeland,
yet his own people did not receive him.
12 But to as many as did receive him, to those who put their trust in his person and power, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 not because of bloodline, physical impulse or human intention, but because of God.
14 The Word became a human being and lived with us,
and we saw his Sh’khinah,
the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
15 Yochanan witnessed concerning him when he cried out, “This is the man I was talking about when I said, ‘The one coming after me has come to rank ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”
16 We have all received from his fullness,
yes, grace upon grace.
17 For the Torah was given through Moshe;
grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah.
18 No one has ever seen God; but the only and unique Son, who is identical with God and is at the Father’s side — he has made him known.
-------
The gods the Greeks and Romans worshipped carried out their purposes far from the day-to-day concerns of human beings. If one of them visited earth, people had best try to placate him or her or get out of the way. But “the Word,” John said, was entirely different. He brought light for all people, and gave all who believed in him the right to become children of God. He capped it off with the astonishing assertion that “the Word became flesh and made his home among us.” Neither Greeks nor Jews believed even God could bridge a gap that wide. But by becoming flesh, “the Word” showed us what God is really like. The light wasn’t just about God—the light was God in person, in our midst.
• John, taking his cue from Jesus (John 3:3-8), said the life Jesus brought is so new it’s like being born anew as a child of God. When did your spiritual journey start? In what ways has walking with Jesus given you a whole new life? John’s prologue included a tragic note: “the light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him.” What blocked people’s ability to recognize their Creator? How can you avoid that kind of blockage? How does the person of Jesus shape your understanding of God? What difference does what you believe about God make in day-to-day life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, on this last day of 2016, I thank you for being with me through the year. And I’m so grateful for your assurance that your life-giving presence goes with me into every day of 2017. Amen.
Family Activity: Mary and Joseph were full of joy at the birth of Jesus. Then the angel joyfully told the shepherds that Jesus had been born and the shepherds joyfully told others! How can you joyfully tell others about the birthday of Jesus? First, create a list of people with whom you want to share the good news of Jesus. Consider neighbors, community workers, store clerks, family, and friends. Next, discuss fun and creative ways you could share the exciting news of Jesus’ birth and his love. You might bake treats, design cards, create a simple craft or write a simple note. Deliver your items to people. Let each person know you are praying for him or her during this Christmas season and throughout the year. Share the joy of Jesus with everyone!
-------
-------
Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
-------
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing made had being.
4 In him was life,
and the life was the light of mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not suppressed it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was Yochanan. 7 He came to be a testimony, to bear witness concerning the light; so that through him, everyone might put his trust in God and be faithful to him. 8 He himself was not that light; no, he came to bear witness concerning the light.
-------
The prologue to John’s gospel daringly linked the worlds of Greek and Hebrew thought. Numerous Greek philosophers had identified “the Word” (Greek logos) as the great Idea behind the world. The Hebrew Bible began (like John) with “in the beginning,” and said God spoke into being all that is. John’s poetic prologue said Jesus embodied all that power and wisdom.
• “In the beginning,” in any language, carries us back to areas of mystery of which, even today, science is just scratching the surface. John didn’t say the Word “began” in the beginning; he said the Word “was.” It was a way of saying Jesus has always been here,
and will always be here. He is eternal; he is God. In what ways does it matter to your faith that Jesus is more than just a good man?
• “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light” wasn’t just poetry. As we see on Christmas Eve, even a large room full of darkness cannot hide or put out the light of the one small Christ candle when it comes into the room. When has it felt to you that darkness was trying to put out God’s light in your life? What spiritual practices have you found that help keep you close to God, so that God’s light keeps shining in you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for shining the life-giving light of your love and grace into my life. Amen.
-------
Today’s classic passage is John’s masterpiece. In less than 120 words he propels the reader through profound philosophical/ theological ideas, places the great prophet, John the Baptist, in his honored context, and introduces one of John’s grand themes: The Light of Christ vs. the World’s Darkness.
Aside: John’s introduction hearkens back to the Creation story in Genesis. An old preacher story says that after God created 24 hours of alternating light & darkness one of His angels asked Him what he was going to do next. God replies, “I think I’m going to call it a day.”
John’s original audience would have readily appreciated his symbolism. They knew all too well the hazards and threats that occurred in darkness, be it tripping and falling, attacks by wild animals, or being set upon by thieves.
In medieval times, superstitious legends developed about “The Witching Hour” (12:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.) or “The Devil’s Hour” (3:00 a.m.) when evil freely roamed the earth, coinciding when the night was at its darkest.
As communities became more developed, street lighting was emphasized to provide artificial light to combat the night. Lamplighters were employed to light lamps along the street each evening with a wick on the end of a long pole. At dawn they would return to extinguish the candles. (Benjamin Franklin invented the 4-sided lantern for streetlights in Philadelphia to help avoid the wicks being blown out by the wind.)
The 1st natural gas distribution companies/utilities in America were started in the mid 1800’s to create the infrastructure to provide gas lighting in front of homes & businesses to improve the safety & comfort in the neighborhoods. Today street lighting, provided by electrical lights, has been found to reduce accidents, improve safety for pedestrians, and reduce crime rates.
Despite all these efforts by societies throughout history, we still have a problem. Artificial light may provide temporary comfort from the shadows of the night, but it doesn’t combat the darkness that can seem to penetrate our souls.
So what does this mean for us today? Last Spring Break our family toured Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. This planned tour prompted the folks’ recounting of my first visit to Mammoth Cave as a 5-year-old. Apparently I was on an independence kick that summer, feeling quite capable of being in charge of myself. As we toured the cave, Dad recommended I hold his hand. I quickly shot down that suggestion and wandered around to look at the cave. Being in my own world, I missed the Park Ranger’s instruction that he was going to shut off the lights for 30 seconds so we could appreciate the cave’s darkness. The lights go off and we are in pitch-black darkness. And, as the folks noted, all that could be heard was my small voice saying, “D-a-a-a-d?”
You know, sometimes we can be tempted to think that man-made “lighting” can solve our problem of darkness, be it through possessions, power, or prestige. Or perhaps we are enticed to feel that we are, indeed, large and in charge and don’t need any assistance, let alone God’s help.
Yet when darkness does descend on our lives we can have full confidence that God will hear our cry and be there to take our hand to help comfort us and to guide us through the gloom.
(After reading this 556-word Insight, I, too, marvel at John’s succinctness to make his point in so few words – Editor. You could edit this comment to just “John rocks!” – DL. Touché. Happy New Year! – Editor.)
Looking for GPS Guide? Scroll to the top of this page and click the GPS Guide tab!
DARREN LIPPEDarren Lippe helps facilitate Journey 101 “Loving God” classes, guides a 7th-grade Sunday school class, is a member of a small group and a men’s group, and serves on the curriculum team.
-------
"Born to fully reveal God’s glory, truth and grace"
Saturday, 31 December 2016
John 1:9 This was the true light,
which gives light to everyone entering the world.
10 He was in the world — the world came to be through him —
yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own homeland,
yet his own people did not receive him.
12 But to as many as did receive him, to those who put their trust in his person and power, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 not because of bloodline, physical impulse or human intention, but because of God.
14 The Word became a human being and lived with us,
and we saw his Sh’khinah,
the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
15 Yochanan witnessed concerning him when he cried out, “This is the man I was talking about when I said, ‘The one coming after me has come to rank ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”
16 We have all received from his fullness,
yes, grace upon grace.
17 For the Torah was given through Moshe;
grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah.
18 No one has ever seen God; but the only and unique Son, who is identical with God and is at the Father’s side — he has made him known.
-------
The gods the Greeks and Romans worshipped carried out their purposes far from the day-to-day concerns of human beings. If one of them visited earth, people had best try to placate him or her or get out of the way. But “the Word,” John said, was entirely different. He brought light for all people, and gave all who believed in him the right to become children of God. He capped it off with the astonishing assertion that “the Word became flesh and made his home among us.” Neither Greeks nor Jews believed even God could bridge a gap that wide. But by becoming flesh, “the Word” showed us what God is really like. The light wasn’t just about God—the light was God in person, in our midst.
• John, taking his cue from Jesus (John 3:3-8), said the life Jesus brought is so new it’s like being born anew as a child of God. When did your spiritual journey start? In what ways has walking with Jesus given you a whole new life? John’s prologue included a tragic note: “the light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him.” What blocked people’s ability to recognize their Creator? How can you avoid that kind of blockage? How does the person of Jesus shape your understanding of God? What difference does what you believe about God make in day-to-day life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, on this last day of 2016, I thank you for being with me through the year. And I’m so grateful for your assurance that your life-giving presence goes with me into every day of 2017. Amen.
Family Activity: Mary and Joseph were full of joy at the birth of Jesus. Then the angel joyfully told the shepherds that Jesus had been born and the shepherds joyfully told others! How can you joyfully tell others about the birthday of Jesus? First, create a list of people with whom you want to share the good news of Jesus. Consider neighbors, community workers, store clerks, family, and friends. Next, discuss fun and creative ways you could share the exciting news of Jesus’ birth and his love. You might bake treats, design cards, create a simple craft or write a simple note. Deliver your items to people. Let each person know you are praying for him or her during this Christmas season and throughout the year. Share the joy of Jesus with everyone!
-------
-------
Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
-------
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment